Hydrangea plant named ‘BCHY-15.001’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  (Thunb.) plant named ‘BCHY-15.001’ originated as a controlled cross between varieties. The variety ‘BCHY-15.001’ has attractive inflorescences with sepalous florets with attractive sepal pigmentation and good commercial characteristics.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘BCHY-15.001’.

Variety denomination: ‘BCHY-15.001’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of the Saxifragaceae family. The botanical name of the plant is Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) ‘BCHY-15.001’.

The new cultivar originated as a seedling from a controlled cross between a variety known to the inventor as ‘BC7.12’ which was the seed parent and the unpatented variety known as ‘Rotdrossel’ which was the pollen parent. ‘BC7.12’ was the subject of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/986,047 which issued as U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,677. ‘BC7.12’ originated as a seedling from a controlled cross between the unpatented variety known as ‘LK49’ which was the seed parent and a commercial variety known as ‘Venedig’ to the inventor which may be the subject of U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,928 and registered as ‘Venice Raven’. ‘Venedig’ was the pollen parent of that cross. ‘LK49’ is relatively compact plant with wiry stems, relatively small leaves, relatively small sepalous florets, and inflorescences that are resistant to being damaged by conditions in commercial coolers. The applicant is unaware as to whether the commercial variety known as ‘Rotdrossel’ is the subject of a patent in the United States or a foreign country or protected as a plant variety in the United States or a foreign country. No observations of the parent ‘Rotdrossel’ were made.

The variety ‘BCHY-15.001’ has sepalous florets with somewhat variegated sepal pigmentation at maturity and good commercial characteristics, including strong stems, a propensity to branch when pinched and a propensity to set infloresences on each stem and lateral branch. The color of the sepals changes as the plant ages. The plant is similar to U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,757 entitled Hydangrea Plant named ‘BC6.1’. Below is a table comparing the new variety to similar varieties.

TABLE 1 Commerical variety ‘Venedig’ which may U.S. U.S. be U.S. Plant Pat. Plant Pat. Plant Pat. No. New Variety No. 25,677 No. 23,757 10,928 ‘BCHY-15.001’ ‘BC7.12’ ‘BC6.1’ ‘Venice Raven’ Leaf size 9 cm wide × 9 cm × 13 cm wide × 11 cm wide × 13.5 cm long 16.5 cm 16 cm long 15.5 cm long - source U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,928 Plant height 14″ in 6″ pot. 17″ in 6″ 15″ in 6″ 12″ in 6″ pot - pot. pot observed controls grown alongside ‘BC6.1’. Stem strength Strong Stems are Stems are Strong - strong. strong but observed benefit from controls grown being staked alongside ‘BC6.1’. Sepal Certain plants Upper side Upper sides Upper side of Pigmentation treated with of sepals of sepals sepals is aluminum: is R.H.S. are R.H.S. R.H.S. 84 A upper sides of 67 A (red - 86 A (violet (violet group). sepals are purple group); Un- Under side of R.H.S. 96 A group); der sides of sepals is (violet - blue Under side sepals are R.H.S. 85 A group) at their of sepals R.H.S. 88 D (violet group) centers and is R.H.S. (violet group) observed R.H.S 83 B 68 A (red- controls grown (violet group) purple alongside at their group). ‘BC6.1’. margins, and under sides of sepals are R.H.S. 88 B (violet - blue group). Plants not treated with aluminum: upper sides of sepals are R.H.S 63 C (red-purple group) at their centers and R.H.S. 63 A (red - purple group) at their margins, and under sides are R.H.S. 63 C (red-purple group). Sepalous 60 mm 60 mm 60 mm to 70 mm - Floret 70 mm observed Size - controls Diameter grown alongside ‘BC6.1’.

The new cultivar ‘BCHY-15.001’ has been successfully asexually reproduced under controlled environmental conditions at a nursery in Half Moon Bay, Calif. under the direction of the inventor with its distinguishing characteristics remaining stable.

Asexual reproduction was first accomplished when vegetative cuttings were used from the initially selected plant. Examination of asexually reproduced, successive generations grown in Half Moon Bay, Calif. show that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for ‘BCHY-15.001’ remains firmly fixed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings consist of color photographs that show the typical plant form at 1 year when grown in a commercial nursery and forced to bloom, including the inflorescence, foliage, and sepals.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an entire plant treated with aluminum showing its form, growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the color of its sepals.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an entire plant treated with aluminum showing its form, growth habit, dark green foliage, inflorescence, and the color of its sepals.

FIG. 3 is a view of the base of the plant treated with aluminum.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the underside of a panicle of a plant treated with aluminum.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of the upper side of the inflorescence of the new variety treated with aluminum.

FIG. 6 is a side view of entire plant not treated with aluminum.

FIG. 7 is a top view of an entire plant not treated with aluminum.

FIG. 8 is a view of the base of the plant not treated with aluminum.

FIG. 9 is a close-up view of the underside of a panicle of a plant not treated with aluminum.

FIG. 10 is a close-up view of the adaxial surface of a mature leaf of a plant not treated with aluminum.

FIG. 11 is a close-up view of the upper side of the inflorescence of the new variety not treated with aluminum.

FIG. 12 is at top view of an entire plant not treated with aluminum grown in a different cycle than the plant shown in FIGS. 6-11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The plants described are approximately a year old. The plant started out as cuttings, used from the stem of a grown plant. The plants shown were pinched early in their development to promote lateral branches. As noted for some of the plants pictured the soil was periodically treated with aluminum to produce a different pigmentation. The plant shown in FIG. 12 was not treated aluminum. The plant shown in FIG. 12 was grown in a different cycle and under different conditions than the plant shown in FIGS. 6-11. All measurements and color determinations provided for plants grown with aluminum treatments are based on the plants grown in the same cycle and under the same conditions as the plant shown in FIGS. 1-5. All measurements and color determinations provided for plants grown without aluminum treatments are based on the plants grown in the same cycle and under the same conditions as the plant shown in FIGS. 6-11. All measurements and characterizations and color determinations apply to both plants treated with aluminum and those not treated with aluminum unless otherwise noted.

‘BCHY-15.001’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, treatment with aluminum and day length. Color determinations were made with The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart, developed in association with the Flower Council of Holland, located in Lieden.

-   The plant:     -   -   Origin.—Cross between the patented variety known as ‘BC7.12’             — U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,677 — which was the seed parent,             and the commercial variety ‘Rotdrossel’ which was the pollen             parent.         -   Form.—Upright, non-climbing compact shrub. The mature plant             with a mature inflorescence that is ready for sale is             approximately 14″ high and has a diameter of 18″ when grown             in a 6″ pot with appropriate soil amendments.         -   Growth.—Upright, vigorous growth habit. Inflorescence is             medium to large. The plant branches easily with shoots             forming at the base of the plant. Lateral branches are             similar in appearance and form to the main stems.         -   Stems.—Lenticels are present. Stem lengths are approximately             11″. Fasciation is absent. Lenticels are R.H.S. 86 A (violet             group) and are 1 to 4 mm long. The surface of young stems is             glabrous. Stems become woody as they age. The color of             typical young stems and young lateral branches is R.H.S. 144             A (yellow-green group). The older portions of the stems are             R.H.S. 199 A (grey-brown group). Younger portions of the             stems are 7 mm in diameter. Older portions of the stems are             7 mm in diameter.         -   Foliage.—Abundant. Leaves are opposite on stem and lateral             branches. Shape of leaf. — Elliptic with acute base and             acute apex. Tips of leaves are 12 mm long. Margins are             serrate and not lobed. Texture. — Glabrous; veins dominate             on the underside of the leaf and are sunken on the upper             leaf surface. The upper side of the leaf is moderately             glossy. Variegation is absent. Color. — Mature leaves have             an upper side that is R.H.S. 136 A (green group), and an             under side that is R.H.S. 137 C (green group). Leaves are             pinnately veined. The midvein and veins branching off the             midvein are large and prominent on the underside of the             leaves. Veins are R.H.S. 145 C (yellow-green group). Leaves             are as wide as 9.0 cm and 13.5 cm long. Petioles are smooth             and approximately 1.5 cm long and 4 mm wide. Petioles are             R.H.S. 145 C (yellow-green group). -   Buds:     -   -   Form.—Globose with 4 to 5 connate, elliptic, smooth petals.             The terminal and later-developing buds of the panicles are             non-sepalous. The majority of buds will develop into             sepalous florets. The buds are approximately 2 mm by 2 mm             when very young. Buds can be 5 mm in diameter and still             unopened. Color of mature buds is R.H.S. 97 B (violet-blue             group) for the observed plants treated with aluminum. Color             of mature buds is R.H.S. 70 B (red-purple group) for the             observed plants that were not treated with aluminum.         -   Aspect.—Smooth.         -   Arrangement.—Borne on branched panicles. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Form.—Paniculate. Terminal. As many as 70 individual florets             (both sepalous and non-sepalous) per inflorescence. Both             sepalous florets and non-sepalous florets are borne on the             same panicle. Non-sepalous florets are inconspicuous.             Flowers do not produce a fragrance. The peduncle for the             inflorescence is strong and upright. There are very few             non-sepalous florets. The non-sepalous florets are located             at the terminal portion of the panicle and are later hidden             by sepalous florets. Florets, both sepalous and             non-sepalous, have anthers and style. Inflorescences are             long-lasting. Florets near terminal floret have less             developed sepals and are less pigmented.         -   Size of inflorescence.—Medium. Individual inflorescence size             is dependent on the number of florets. A typical             inflorescence can grow as large as 8″ in diameter, and 4″             high.         -   Shape.—Globose. Clusters of numerous small florets; sepalous             florets overlap one another. Sepals are persistent.         -   Appearance.—Showy. -   Florets:     -   -   General.—The non-sepalous florets at the center of the             panicles open first. Sepalous and non-sepalous florets are             perfect and complete. Corolla: Generally, for both sepalous             and non-sepalous florets there are 4 petals. Petals are             typically 4 mm long and 3 mm wide. Petals are R.H.S. 97 B             (violet-blue group) for observed plants treated with             aluminum. Petals are R.H.S. 70 B (red-purple group) for             observed plants not treated with aluminum. Lenticels are             present on pedicels of both sepalous and non-sepalous             florets, lenticels and range in length from 1 mm to 3 mm.             Lenticels are R.H.S. 59 B (red-purple group). Pedicel length             for non-sepalous florets averages 4 mm. Pedicel length of             sepalous florets is approximately 30 mm in length for plants             of this age. Pedicels of both sepalous and non-sepalous             florets continue to elongate as the inflorescence ages. In             the observed plants treated with aluminum, pedicels range             from 96 B (violet-purple group) at the base of the pedicel             to R.H.S. 128 D (green group) near the floret when mature             for observed plants treated with aluminum. In the observed             plants not treated with aluminum, pedicels range from 59 B             (red-purple group) at the base of the pedicel to R.H.S. 128             D (green group) near the floret when mature.         -   Stamens.—8 to 10 stamens. Anther is regular and basally             attached. The stamens are 5 mm long and are R.H.S. 96 A             (violet-purple group). The anthers are 2 mm long and are             R.H.S. 145 A (yellow-green group). Pollen is scarce.         -   Stigma.—Typically three style each. Each style has one             stigma.         -   Ovary.—Ovary is partially inferior.         -   Sepalous florets.—General. — Veins dominate on the underside             of the sepals. Number of sepals. — 4 to 5 sepals per floret,             usually 4. Aspect of sepals. — Smooth and glaucescent. Shape             of sepals. — Reniform with acuminate apex. Edges are entire,             but with some crenation. Size of sepals. — As the florets             mature, the sepals enlarge and overlap each other more and             more, until, often, there is no space between the sepals             when the petals of the florets open. Sepals at maturity are             typically 30 mm long and 35 mm wide. Sepalous florets are             typically 60 mm in diameter. In the observed plants treated             with aluminum, the upper sides of the sepals are variegated             in color with the centers being R.H.S. 96 A (violet-blue             group) and the margins being R.H.S. 83 B (violet group). In             the observed plants treated with aluminum, the undersides             are R.H.S. 88 B (violet group). In the observed plants not             treated with aluminum, the upper sides of the sepals are             slightly variegated in color with the centers being R.H.S.             63 C (red-purple group) and the margins being R.H.S. 63 A             (red-purple group). In the observed plants not treated with             aluminum, the undersides are R.H.S. 63 C (red-purple group).             Pigmentation develops at the tips of the sepals and travels             inward towards the base of the sepals.         -   Fruit.—None.         -   Disease and pest resistance.—Unknown.

Plants prefer milder temperatures.

Plants bloom in the spring but can be forced to bloom by placing in a cold environment. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea macrophylla plant named ‘BCHY-15.001’ substantially as herein illustrated and described. 